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Celebrate the one-of-a-kind arts and culture that make the Wichita region memorable.

Nine Wichita area individuals, cultural organizations and businesses will be recognized for their work to further the growth and development of arts in the Wichita area during the 48th annual Art Awards dinner, held by the Arts Council and sponsored by Westar Energy, Culinary Catering, and the City of Wichita. The event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 2 at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. A complete list of award winners is included below.

The festivities will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m.; dinner and a cash bar will follow. The awards ceremony will commence at 6:30 p.m. with performances by local musicians and artists throughout the evening.

Tickets are $60 per person or $750 for a reserved table of 10 (includes complimentary wine). Tickets are on sale at WichitaTIX.com or at the WichitaTIX box office in the Concert Hall entrance of Century II.

History of the Art AwardsThe Wichita/Sedgwick County Arts and Humanities Council established the Annual Arts Council Awards in 1969 to recognize and honor those businesses, foundations and individuals who have displayed consistent and exemplary support of the arts and humanities in Wichita/Sedgwick County. These awards focus attention on the importance of the arts as they relate to the quality of life in Wichita/Sedgwick County and honor those who have made major creative achievements or significant contributions to cultural growth or development.

Award Categories

Gordon W. Evans Award – Given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts.

Arts Organization – Given to a public, not-for-profit organization that presents or provides arts opportunities to the Wichita community and region.

Special Project – Given to a neighborhood, business, corporation or group that has provided support for a single event or project.

Arts Educator – Given to an individual who has devoted a career to teaching the arts in an educational environment.

Arts Advocate/Individual – Given to an individual or couple dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.

Arts Advocate/Group or Business– An organization or business dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.

Individual Artist – Given to an artist actively working in such categories as Choreography, Music Composition, Film/Video, Theatre, Interdisciplinary/ Performance Art, Two-Dimensional Visual Art and/or Three-Dimensional Visual Art, who has shown outstanding achievement.

Youth Recognition Award – Given to a high school and/or middle school student who has shown outstanding achievement and development in the arts.

Burton Pell Award – A new award created in memory of Mr. Pell a long time member and past president of the Arts Council. It will be given to an outstanding individual in music.

The Arts Council believes that Arts Save Cities. We also believe:

In Advocating for Public Art & AestheticsAs one of the nation’s 50 largest cities, The Arts Council advocates for the importance of developing a public art program that ensures art and artists are as a part of the City’s public amenities design plans as the team of architects and engineers to enhance quality of life experiences throughout our city.

In Quality of Life Experiences for all Wichita CitizensQuality of Life must incorporate the arts, beyond merely their aesthetic functions, in order to create a vibrant, inclusive and diverse community that fosters civic pride and participation, stimulates the economy, attracts tourists, revitalizes neighborhoods and addresses social problems. The arts must exist throughout civic structure – from youth programs and crime prevention to job training and race relations. The arts cross all quality of life boundaries to lift our community to a place of well-being for all citizens.

In Elected Offcials who Champion Arts and Culture in Wichita The Arts Council will continue to be supportive of elected officials who foster the link between economic development and a thriving arts and cultural community. We will continue to identify appropriate times to speak at Council meetings in order to offer our recommendations and fulfill our responsibility documented in the current City of Wichita Cultural Plan to be the focal point on arts and cultural issues.

In Partnerships…

We offer our Arts Organization and Artist membership as an easy way to form partnerships and provide a united front – bringing arts/quality of life awareness and projects to everyone in our community.

…and Advocating for our Partners

As an Arts Organization or Artist member, be prepared to join a dedicated, passionate group of members who advocate for local arts organizations and artists and support special artist projects and events.

Arts Council’s 47th Annual Art Awards

Eleven Wichita individuals, cultural organizations and businesses will be recognized for their work to further the growth and development of arts in the Wichita area during the 47th annual Art Awards dinner, sponsored by Westar Energy, Corporate Caterers, the Arts Council and the City of Wichita. The event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 3 at Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center. A complete list of award winners is included below.

The festivities will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m.; dinner will follow. Tickets are $60 per person or $750 for a reserved table of 10 (wine included). Tickets are on sale at WichitaTIX.com or at the WichitaTIX box office in the Concert Hall entrance of Century II.

The 2016 Art Awards recipients are:

• Arts Advocate – Individual: Armando Minjarez
Given to an individual or couple dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.

• Arts Advocate Group or Business: Planet Hair
An organization or business dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form or the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative or professional efforts.

• Arts Educator: Nick Johnson
Given to an individual who has devoted a career to teaching the arts in an educational environment.

• Arts Organization: Heart of America Men’s Chorus
Given to a public, not-for-profit organization that presents or provides arts opportunities to the Wichita community and region.

• Burton Pell Award: Lynne Davis
A new award created in memory of Mr. Pell a long time member and past president of the Arts Council. It will be given to an outstanding individual in music.

• Special Project: Redbud Bike Path
Given to a neighborhood, business, corporation or group that has provided support for a single event or project.

• Youth Recognition: Evan Schelton
Given to a high school and/or middle school student who has shown outstanding achievement and development in the arts.

• Chris Cherches Award: Wichita Art Museum “Art Garden”
An award presented by the Design Council to honor excellence in public art. The award is in honor of Chris Cherches, Wichita’s city manager for 18 years, who was a strong advocate for the arts in this community.

• Gordon W. Evans Award: Sondra Langel
Given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts.

An additional award, the Sculpture WalkAbout Award of Excellence, will be awarded to Ed Langston for his sculpture, “Bernie’s Bird”.

FURTHER ASSISTANCE
For further assistance or information in preparing this form, contact Bernadette Bradshaw, (316) 303-8663 or bbradshaw@wichita.gov

Each year, the Arts Council honors individuals, foundations and businesses that have made significant contributions to the arts in the Wichita area. The 2013 recipients are:

Chris Shank — Gordon W. Evans Award given to a patron demonstrating outstanding leadership and special support for the arts.

Joan Cole – Arts Advocate/Individual given to an individual dedicated to furthering the cause of the arts in general through promotional, volunteer, administrative, legislative and professional efforts.

St. James Episcopal Church – Arts Advocate/Group given to an organization dedicated to furthering the cause of an art form specifically through its Guild Hall Players, its After-School Program featuring an arts-based curriculum, its annual Art a la Carte, and its three choirs.

Bluebird Arthouse – Business Award given to a business providing broad-based and continued support of the arts through its operation.

Exploration Place – Special Project Award given for its Star Wars Exhibit.

Aimee Geist – Arts Educator Award given to an individual who has devoted a career to instruction in the arts in an educational environment (the Ulrich at WSU).

Babs Mellor – Special Recognition/Individual Award given for outstanding contributions to the arts through her vast body of work and her instruction in sculpture spanning 40 years.

Theatre League – Special Recognition/Organization Award given for the important economic impact of the presentation of “The Lion King.”

Julianne McLean – Burton Pell Award given to an outstanding individual in music.

Friends of WAM – Arts Organization Award given to a public, not-for profit organization that provides arts opportunities to the Wichita community and region.

Curt Clonts – Individual Artist Award given to an artist actively working in one of the arts who has shown outstanding achievement.

Daniel Debolt – Youth Recognition Award given to a high school or middle school student who has shown outstanding achievement and development in the arts.

MKEC Engineering Consultants, Inc. – Chris Cherches Award given for outstanding work on a public works project. This award is presented for the Lincoln Street Bridge and Dam project.

The art awards will be presented at a gala banquet on Thursday, Nov. 7 at the Drury Plaza Broadview Hotel Grand Ballroom, 400 W. Douglas. A reception and dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. with the awards program beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The public is invited to attend. Tickets are $50 each or $450 for a table of 10. Seating is open with the exception of the reserved tables. Tickets may be ordered through Nov. 4 at www.wichitatix.com or by calling 316-219-4849.